Almost a year since President Trump declared the opioid crisis a national emergency, the scourge remains one of the biggest killers in America.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that in 2017, about 11.4 million people misused opioids – down from 12.7 million people in 2016.

While the Trump declaration redirected federal money and cleared red tape for state and local officials -- including demanding each Cabinet department claim a role in tackling this epidemic -- many health experts believe the declaration will have limited effect without major new sources of funding.

It’s a sobering reality that many Americans are still losing their battle to opioid addiction while the federal government is finding a way to stave off this epidemic.

Trump is expected to sign the legislation – which would effectively coincide with the Oct. 26 anniversary of declaring the opioid crisis a national public health emergency.